Indian Navy Sea Harrier Crashes; Pilot Presumed Dead

[PAFAce]

Indian Navy Sea Harrier Crashes; Pilot Presumed Dead

NEW DELHI, India - An Indian navy fighter jet crashed into the Arabian Sea off the western state of Goa on Aug. 21, with the pilot presumed dead, a military official said.

The jet, a British-made Sea Harrier, plummeted into the sea nine miles (15 kilometers) off Goa's coast, Indian navy spokesman P.V.S Satish said.

"The pilot is presumed dead," he added. The cause of the crash was not immediately known.

It came less then a month after an Indian military trainer plane crashed in the southeastern state of Andhra Pradesh, killing its two pilots.

In May, India grounded its fleet of Sukhoi-30s following the first crash involving one of the top of the line Russian-built jets.

India has begun training rookie pilots on Hawk trainer planes bought for $1.25 billion in a 2004 contract with British defense equipment firm BAE Systems.

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Sad news. Is this a first for the Indian Navy?

 

[wild_fire1979]

All said and done, these are old planes at the end of there usable lives. They need to be replaced but unfortunately, govt bureaucracy coupled with the general lax attitude of MOD is resulting in pilots dying.


These planes would need to be replaced with something better.

 

[Munir]

It shows the problem of upgrading (it is always a risk) and old airframes... Unfortunately the pilot has to take those risk. RIP.

 

[Kamakazi 69]

Poor pilot.
When exactly are the Harriers going to be replaced by the MiG 29s?

 

[Arsalan]

poor soul,
these brave men so often have to lay there lives because of plane malfunctions!

however better discuss it in relavant forum, this is for Pakistan Military Aviation and i dont think this crash will in any form effect our aviation!


regards!

 

[PAFAce]

What would India replace the Harriers with? Also, many countries around the world still use Harriers, including the Marine Corp and Royal Navy. They have some of the highest crash rates worldwide, but their capability still makes them worth the risk for many. So the question remains, what will you replace them with?

 

[HK-47]

USMC,RN and USN would be replacing them with the F-35.

When exactly are the Harriers going to be replaced by the MiG 29s?

aren't they buying those along with a Russian aircraft carrier?

 

[Munir]

The harriers are the oldest types flying around. I think they had upgrade (including Isrealy BVR) because it takes some time to get Mig29K for the IAF...

 

[TOPGUN]

Sad news for the pilot!

 

[SBD-3]

All said and done, these are old planes at the end of there usable lives. They need to be replaced but unfortunately, govt bureaucracy coupled with the general lax attitude of MOD is resulting in pilots dying.


These planes would need to be replaced with something better.

with JSF? yap i agree GoI should upgrade them they are very good machines

 

[Mig-29]

The harriers are the oldest types flying around. I think they had upgrade (including Isrealy BVR) because it takes some time to get Mig29K for the IAF...

Mig -29 k is not for the IAF , it is for the Indian navy and sea harrier has recently got an upgrade , so it is supposed to be there in the navy for quite some time , across the world the harrier has a high accident rate .

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

bummer..indian been having numerous crashes, esp the past two years

 

[aanshu001]

Captain Sharma was good friend of mine, very humorous person left mother, wife, sister and a son behind. God give them strength to cope.

 

[aanshu001]

more then half of the harriers are crashed in last decade, on this rate their will be no sufficient planes to operate from Viraat when she is back in business as only 8 of them are flying for now.

 

[Munir]

India did not want to get the newer UK harriers which were dumped out of service. Understandable but upgrading these even a lot older harriers is a tricky buss cause the airframes are old and notorious when it comes to handling and safety. I think the upgrading was not a good move cause there is no real opponent sofar and the planes are nog good enough. But then again if you have a multi million vessels then you better use it cause otherwise you throw away cash. And there is no alternative plane for that vessel unless they get naval JSF. I think with numbers going down the IN will ahve to look at second hand newer Harriers. my 2 cents.